Blues dent Boro's promotion bid

A goal from Socceroos striker Scott McDonald was not enough to help Middlesbrough's promotion push as Birmingham came from behind to win 3-2 in the English Championship at St Andrews on Friday.

Boro would have moved level on points with leaders Cardiff had they beaten the Blues, but Tony Mowbray's side twice squandered the lead and remain in third spot after Marlon King's late winner for Birmingham.

The visitors had gone ahead in the 14th minute when captain Grant Leadbitter headed in an Andy Halliday cross.

But King levelled with a penalty on the stroke of half-time after being tripped by Andre Bikey.

The in-form McDonald restored Middlesbrough's lead when he punished sloppy defending from Pablo Ibanez to fire home after a goalmouth scramble in the 62nd minute.

However, Birmingham, who have struggled for much of the season, hit back through Wade Elliott, who equalised in the 66th minute with a lob that should have been saved by Jason Steele.

And King bagged the winner with nine minutes remaining when the former Watford forward converted a pass from Peter Lovenkrands.

The defeat leaves Middlesbrough two points behind second placed Crystal Palace, while Birmingham's second win in seven attempts at home will slightly ease the pressure on under-fire boss Lee Clark, whose side are now nine points clear of the relegation zone.